The most commonly used building performance analysis software based on BIM modeling platforms includes the following:
Autodesk Ecotect Analysis
Analysis Types: Meteorological data analysis, wind environment analysis, light environment analysis, sunshine analysis, energy consumption analysis.
Advantages: Ecotect is currently the most widely used BIM-based analysis software. It requires minimal professional expertise and can output multiple types of data formats for analysis.
Limitations: When it comes to building energy consumption analysis, the software’s data accuracy is limited. This results in significant discrepancies when simulating real-world energy consumption, making it suitable mainly for preliminary design stage analysis.
Eco-designer
Analysis Type: Energy consumption analysis.
Advantages: Eco-designer is a plugin built for ArchiCAD that allows for fast and direct energy consumption analysis of BIM models created in ArchiCAD. It delivers accurate results.
Limitations: The software is limited to energy consumption analysis only, offering relatively narrow functionality.
PKPM
Analysis Type: Energy consumption analysis.
Advantages: PKPM is a building energy consumption simulation tool based on DOE-2.1, providing precise calculations.
Limitations: The DOE operating systems are complex and require specialized knowledge to operate effectively.
Tianzheng Energy Conservation
Analysis Types: Light environment analysis, sunlight analysis, energy consumption analysis.
Advantages: Tianzheng Energy Conservation is the most widely used performance analysis software outside of BIM platforms. Its version 2.0 can analyze building electricity and coal consumption using BIM model data.
Limitations: Results are presented mainly in tables and reports, offering a low level of visualization.
DesignBuilder
Analysis Types: Light environment analysis, sunlight analysis, energy consumption analysis.
Advantages: Based on the EnergyPlus platform, DesignBuilder delivers accurate simulation results along with detailed sunshine analysis data.
Limitations: Visualization is limited, and the software requires large datasets for comprehensive descriptions.
Fluent
Analysis Type: Wind environment analysis.
Advantages: Fluent is a professional aerodynamic calculation and analysis software. It includes comprehensive environmental wind data and is user-friendly. It supports integration with BIM and Rhino models.
Limitations: Using Fluent requires secondary modeling, which can easily introduce errors.
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